Union



K. C. QOLLEY ET AL.

NION Filed Ma 1959 -W/W u W M m mCJm k K y Patented July id, 194% Aren't OFFICE v Kenneth E. Wooliey and Howard J. Hebert,

2. Claims.

This invention relates to a coupling.

An object of the invention is to provide a coupling comprising two connected parts with a novel type of sealing means between the parts d whereby a fluid tight seal will be maintained between them to prevent the escape of fluid under {pressure between the connected parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coupling specially designed for connecting parts W both of which, or one at least of which, are tubular, said coupling having an outwardly converging, annular seat between the connected parts with an expansible continuous seal ring located in the seat so as to be expanded by the internal pres- M sure of the fluid into sealing engagement with the walls of the seat whereby to prevent the escape of the fluid through the seat, the invention also including means for maintaining the seal ring against detachment or loss when the parts are disconnected.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, arrangement of parts and use, examples of which are given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation oi the coupling, partly in section.

Figure 2 shows an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view.

Figure 3 shows an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of another embodiment, and

Figure 4 shows an elevational view of a seal ring retainer employed.

. 35 In the drawing the numerals I and 2 designate tubular coupling members adapted to be connected by a clamp nut 3. The outer ends of the coupling members may-be threaded, as shown, for the connection of pipe sections thereto. The

1% coupling member i has the external, annular shoulder t therearound and outwardly beyond said shoulder is reduced in external diameter. The coupling member 2 has the external, coarse threads 5 and outwardly beyond said threads is reduced in diameter. The clamp out 3, at one end has the inwardly extended, annular flange t of an inside diameter to fit snugly over the re- ;duced outer end of the coupling member i and to engage the shoulder t and at its other end has 50 the internal coarse threads I adapted to intermesh with the threads 5. Accordingly, when the nut 3 is fitted over the coupling member I and screwed onto the threads 5 the adjacent ends of the coupling members I and 2 will be drawn to- II gether. The nut 3 may have a selected number of external Lugs t thereon providing impact faces whereby the nut may be tightened up if desired by the use of a hammer or-the like, or released. The adjacent ends of the coupling members i, 2 have the outside plane, annular faces 9, It which d are drawn closely together when the nut t is screwed home. Inside of the annular faces d, it, said abutting ends are provided with the inwardly diverging, annular faces M, ii forming an annular groove l3 whose walls converge outwardly. The coupling member i has an inwardly extended, annular skirt M extending partly across said groove toward the adjacent end of the other coupling member 2 and surrounding said skirt and located within the groove N there is an annular seal ring it which is continuous and which is formed oi. material allowing the sealing ring to expand, or enlarge in circumference upon the application of inside pressure thereto so as to force the seal ring tightly into contact with the W walls ll, l2, and the ring is sumciently soft to form efficient seals with said walls.

In order to retain the seal ring in place when the parts are separated and to prevent loss thereof retaining means is provided such as illus- 25.

trated in Figure d. Two or more retainers should be provided, preferably two located opposite each other. Each retainer is formed with the arms l6, ll the free end of the latter of which is retracted and seated in an external socket it of the skirt M. The arm it is turned to approximately parallel relationship with the outer side of the skirt i4, is formed flexible and is provided with an outwardly directed detent 19 which seats in an inside groove 2% of the seal ring. The seal ring 85 may be fitted around the skirt M and passed over the arms I6 and the detent it will snap into the groove 20 and thus lock the seal ring in place so that it will not become lost.

In the form shown in Figure 3 the shrt Me has to the external, converging, annular face Ma and the adjacent end of the coupling member 2a is countersunk thus forming an inside, annular face Ma. The faces Ho and Ma converge outwardly to provide an annular groove l M in which 45 the annular seal ring He is located. This seal ring is similar to the seal ring it being expansible under internal pressure. It is held in place by one or more flexible retainers 2! whose inner ends are seated in external sockets as Na in the 60 skirt Ila and whose outer ends project beyond the skirt and are inwardly retracted so as to permit the ring lid to he slipped over them. They will frictionally engage said ring and hold it against detachment when the coupling members 55 Ha and 2a are separated. In this embodiment Also the pressure of the fluid flo through the coupling will force the seal ring 6521 against the converging walls Ma and 52a thus forming fluid tight seals and in both forms oi. the invention the higher the pressure the more efleotive will be the sealing action of the seal ring.

The drawing and description are illustrative merely, while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What we claim is: 1., A union comprising two tubular couplin members, means for releasably clamping said members together, the adjacent parts of the members having converging faces to form an inside seat, a continuous, expansible seal ring in the seat adapted to be forced into sealing engages,eoe,sss

ment with said faces by the pressure of the fluid in the union and releasable means for retaining the ring in place.

2. A union comprising two tubule:- coupling members, means for releasably clamping said members together, the adjacent parts of the members having converging races to form an inside seat, e yieldshle seal ring in the seat adapted to be forced into sealing engagement with said faces by the pressure of the fluid in the union and means for releessbly connecting the ring to one of the members to prevent detachment of the ring from the member to which it is connected when the clamping means is released. 

